India to Classify Cryptocurrencies as Goods and Services

India is proposing to amend its goods and services tax (GST) to include cryptocurrencies for taxation purposes.

In a report, the Hindu said only 18% GST is currently levied on services offered by crypto exchanges and is categorized under financial services.

“There is clarity needed in regard to levy of GST on cryptocurrencies and whether it has to be levied on the entire value. We are seeing whether cryptocurrencies can be classified as goods or services and also removing any doubt on whether it can be called an actionable claim,” a GST official said.

One GST official compared cryptocurrencies to casinos, lottery, gambling, betting, and horse racing which are taxed at 28% on the entire value of the transaction. 

However, another official believes that if the GST is levied on the entire transaction of the crypto, then the tax rate should be between 0.1 to 1%.

The official added: “Discussions are in a nascent stage on the tax rate, whether it would be 0.1% or 1%. First, a decision on classification will have to be finalized and then the rate will be discussed.”

Tax board plans 30% Tax on crypto gains

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) chairman J.B. Mohapatra announced last week that crypto traders and investors in India would start paying a 30% tax on gains beginning April 1.

“Today’s income tax collection is expected to rise further till March 30. Our gross and net collections in the last five years and the history of the tax department are optimal. Our gross numbers have crossed Rs 15 lakh, (approximately $20,000) which we could never touch earlier,” Mohapatra said.

However, Mohapatra said that the 1% tax deducted at source (TDS) would be implemented on July 1 this year.

India to launch CBDC?

Early this month, the country’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), said it was looking to issue a central bank digital currency (CBDC) rather than a cryptocurrency that RBI could regulate.

Indian State Minister in the Ministry of Finance Pankaj Chaudhary told India’s upper house of parliament that the central bank has no plan to issue a cryptocurrency.

“In this day and age, bulk payments between countries, large transactions between institutions, large transactions between central banks of each country are all better enabled with a digital currency. Therefore we think the RBI would be looking to see how best they can come out with it,” the finance minister said.

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